County Co-Chair:
Katie Cusano, Deputy Commissioner
Broome County Mental Health Department
DOCCS Co-Chair:
Janice Smith, Bureau Chief
NYS Department of Corrections and
Community Supervision
Re-entry Coordinator:
Jeffrey Pryor, MSW
jpryor@co.broome.ny.us
Broome County Mental Health Department &
Southern Tier AIDS Program
A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
TOWARD SUCCESSFUL
COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
DCJS
Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
NYS Re-entry Webinar Series
Broome County Re-entry Task Force Best Practices
“Insight and Suggestions to Make the Process
Work from Start to Finish”
November 29, 2012

“This year, some 600,000 inmates will be
released from prison back into society. We
know from long experience that if they can’t
find work, or a home, or help, they are much
more likely to commit more crimes and return
to prison…. America is the land of the second
chance, and when the gates of the prison open,
the path ahead should lead to a better life.”
--President George W. Bush, 2004 State of the Union Address
•
Affects Everyone
•
Public Safety.
•
Economic Revitalization.
•
The Well-Being of Families and Neighborhoods.
•
The Broome County Mental Health Department
is our LGU and is headed by the Commissioner
of Mental Health.
• Oversees the ABLE Re-entry Program.
• Community support is vital to our success.
KEEP IN MIND…
Individuals returning from a correctional
facility often find themselves facing the same
pressures and temptations that landed them in
jail/prison in the first place.
The Vision of Prisoner Re-entry is to reduce crime by
implementing a seamless plan of services and
supervision developed with each offender, delivered
through state and local collaboration, from the time
of their entry to prison through their transition,
reintegration and aftercare in the community.
The Mission of Prisoner Re-entry is to significantly
reduce crime and enhance public safety by
implementing a seamless system of services for
offenders from the time of their entry to prison
through their transition, community reintegration and
aftercare in their communities.

Identify Gaps in Services.

Collaborate to Coordinated Services.
• Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
• Facility Officers, Field Parole, Probation, local police
departments.
• Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers.
• Employers.
• Social Services & Human Service Agencies.
• Faith Based Organizations.

Enhance Public Safety.

Assist returning individuals with obtaining
training skills or employment.

Enhance self-sufficiency.

Improve access to service programs.

Reduce number of new crimes.
3 Key Elements of Successful Re-entry:
Addressing stabilization needs of individuals who
are released from prison may reduce the
likelihood of being rearrested?
1. Identify transitional housing.
2. Find and keep employment.
3. Receive mentoring.
Nationally 650,000 Men and Women are being
Released from Prison Each Year.
7.5% of the adult population, in the U.S., have
been convicted of a felony.
97% of the Men and Women Currently
Incarcerated will be Released from Prison.
http://www.justice.gov/archive/fbci/progmenu_reentry.html
8 States Nationwide
19 NYS Counties

Provided Grant Money to Establish County
Reentry Task Forces (CRTF).

Counties were offered the opportunity to apply
for funding ~ Amount of money awarded is
based upon the total percentage of returning
individuals to that community.
• Case Conference Committee.
• Housing.
• Mental Health / Substance Use.
• Employment & Education.
• Faith Based & Community Outreach.
Committee members include representatives
from the following agencies:
 Binghamton Police Department.
 Department of Social Services.
 Center for Employment Opportunities.
 NYS certified substance abuse service providers.
 Volunteer’s of America - Homeless Shelter.
 YWCA.
 Contracted LCSW-R Program Instructor.
 Faith-Based Partners.
Electronic case conferencing meetings are
held bi-weekly via email and phone.
1. Electronic meetings save money, time and
minimizes time away from the office.
2. Allows each agency to access own computer
database to identify and locate relevant
information, which will be used during the
orientation and intake process.
1. DOCCS Co-Chair receives weekly active
community prep cases uploaded by Central Office.
2. Parole Officers submit cases for consideration not
initially identified. (Ex: Alternatives to
Incarceration).
3. Other correctional facilities statewide.
4. Willard Drug Treatment Campus.
5. Word-of-mouth among parolees.
6. Self and family member referrals.
Attendees include:
Identified Participants.
DOCCS Co-Chair & CRTF Coordinator.
DSS Supervising Service Examiner.
Housing Agencies:
VOA (houses men, women & families).
YWCA (women).
Homeless Coalition Outreach Coordinator.
CEO Representative.
LCSW-R Social Worker - Facilitates AM and DV classes.
MSW Intern - Facilitates Structured Downtime Class.
The Broome County ABLE Reentry Program contracts with
a Licensed Social Worker (LCSW-R) to facilitate
programming in:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Anger Management.
Domestic Violence.
Structured Downtime/Leisure Education.
Women’s Education
The facilitator teaches psycho-dynamically by introducing Cognitive
and Criminogenic Behavioral Restructuring. Although she does not
provide counseling or therapy, appropriate referrals are made when
necessary.
Social Services.
 Drug / Alcohol Treatment.
 Mental Health / Health Care.
 Vocational & Job Training.
 Transitional Employment.
 Children / Families / & Crime Victims.
 Family & Personal Responsibilities.

 The Women’s Education program is facilitated
by a CASAC with EGALA (Equine Growth and
Learning) certification and she teaches from
both the offender and victim perspectives.

Two MSW Interns co-facilitate the Mentoring
Program with prior successful program
graduates.

Thinking for a Change.
Nationally, 60% of the individuals released
from a state correctional facility will return
within 36 months.
Costing ~ $50,000 Per Year.

Baseline for Broome County
◦ 450 individuals are released from
incarceration annually.

Based on current NYS averages:
◦ 180 succeed (40%)
◦ 270 fail (60%)
$ 9,000,000
$13,500,000
The Broome County Re-Entry
Program has an established 24
month success rate of 86%.

Baseline for Broome County.
◦ 450 individuals released annually.
◦ 225 accepted into re-entry programming.

Based on current BC Re-entry averages:
◦ 194 succeed (86%)
◦ 31 fail (14%)
$ 9,700,000 Savings.
$ 1,550,000.
The DOCCS Co-Chair, Field Parole Officers, and
CRTF Coordinator have developed this working
relationship over the past 2 ½ years.
Consistency, honesty, and dependability are core
elements allowing for this cohesive working
environment to take place.
The Field Parole Officers have the final say in any
case-management decisions.
Every individual is treated as an individual
with:
Respect
Dignity
Value
County Co-Chair:
Katie Cusano, Deputy Commissioner
Broome County Mental Health Department
DOCCS Co-Chair:
Janice Smith, Bureau Chief
NYS Department of Corrections and
Community Supervision
Re-entry Coordinator:
Jeffrey Pryor, MSW
jpryor@co.broome.ny.us
Broome County Mental Health Department &
Southern Tier AIDS Program